Andrea Butts began in this emergency department as a Clinical Nursing Assistant. She has a bubbly personality and makes a friend everywhere she goes. She cares deeply for her patients. Throughout the years, she has elevated her career. She went through the Cape Fear Valley NA II Bridge Program and then graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse. This is not the end for her. It is all of our hope that she continues and obtains her RN degree.

Andrea goes above and beyond for patients who truly need her. I remember a busy night in our ED when we simultaneously had seven or eight codes and traumas coming in at the same time. One of the traumas was Andrea's patient in the Red Zone. This patient’s family members could not come into the department due to the ED being on lockdown. Andrea took the initiative to walk to triage, where the family was waiting, and speak with them personally to let them know their son was okay. This was a truly heartfelt moment that a family will never forget!

Andrea is always smiling and willing to help patients and their visitors. I witnessed an instance where there was a patient who, because of other circumstances, was unable to communicate with his family. Andrea took the initiative to be the bridge between the patient and his family to make sure they could communicate effectively despite the circumstances. She made sure the family knew the patient’s status and made sure the patient knew his family was there and was asking about him.

Andrea does this daily and does it with a smile! She truly is what a nurse is supposed to be! She embodies the true meaning of the word nurse. She is a light in this emergency department, and I believe that this young lady goes above and beyond every single day. She's one of a kind!